I've compiled the kernel myself and now it reads MAC address at boot time. Problem solved? NO. Ethernet card does not trasmit any packets on the net. I have a question: how is your ethernet card? Mine is a card with network, 2 consoles and a SCSI port in it. Could be this the problem? Cheers, A. -- Arianna Arona Servizi Informatici Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Informazione Via Comelico 39 20135 Milano